The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has conducted a public hearing on a Bill for a law to regulate the Establishment and Operations of Private Nursery, Primary, Secondary Schools and Tertiary Institutions in Nasarawa State.
This, accoreing to the house said, is to ensure good and quality education in the state.
Dr Danladi Jatau, the Speaker of the house, declared open the public hearing on Friday in Lafia.
The newsmen report that the public hearing was organised by the House Standing Committee on Education, Science and Technology.
The speaker said that the bill, if passed, would curtail the proliferation of private schools across the state.
He said the public hearing was to get inputs from educationists and other stakeholders on the bill for its smooth passage.
Jatau said the legislation “is seeking” to empower the Ministry of Education to check the proliferation of private schools, eliminate quackery, set quality standards, and provide clear operational guidelines.
The speaker further said the bill would help to reduce the level of decay in the education system as well as promote and enhance education standards in line with global best practices in the state.
“I want to appreciate the State Government for initiating this bill towards ensuring quality education in the state.
“I have subjected the bill to public hearing in order to get inputs from you so that we will have a good law that will regulate the establishment of private schools for quality education in the state,” he said.
He urged stakeholders to contribute positively to the bill while assuring the house’s readiness to pass a law for quality education in the state.
Besides, the speaker appreciated Gov. Abdullahi Sule for his efforts in the education sector in the state.
In his vote of thanks, Mr Abel Bala, Chairman, House Committee on Education, Science and Technology, appreciated the speaker and other stakeholders for attending the public hearing.
Abel said that the bill, if passed, would ensure that private schools were established in line with global best practices, adding that no nation would achieve speedy development without sound education.
“This bill, if passed, would tackle quackery and promote quality and sound education in the state,” he observed.
The committee chairman appreciated educationists and other stakeholders for their positive inputs and contributions on the bill.
Abel assured that the committee would ensure that stakeholders’ inputs and contributions were taken into consideration.
Different education stakeholders gave their inputs, including, Hajiya Khadijat Suleiman, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education; Dr Damina John, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tertiary and Technical Education; and Dr Kassim Mohammed, Executive Chairman, Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB).
Others were Mr Odey Elijah of Nasarawa State Education Trust Fund; Dr Vincent Aya, Deputy Rector, College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Lafia; and Dr Kwakipi Akodos Egga of Isa Mustapha Agwai I Polytechnic, Lafia.
The stakeholders reiterated their determination to supporting the bill for the development of education and education.
Other personalities that also spoke include Mr Bello Hamidu, Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, Nasarawa State; Mr Aloko Williams, Chairman, All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS); Mr David Habila, Chairman, Parent Teacher Association (PTA), Nasarawa State among others.
They all supported the bill to regulate the establishment of private schools in the state, saying it was apt and timely considering the proliferation of private schools across the state.
They said the bill would go a long way in tackling quackery and promote good education in the state.
